Carrier



A g- 1957 o. J. BRIDENSTINE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11. 1966 LN Ow INVE/V TOR O. J. BRIDENSTINE A T TORNEYS Aug. 1, 1967 o. J. BRIDENSTINE CARRIER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1966 INVENTOR 0.). BRIDENSTINE fl Q A 7' TOR/VEYS invention in the open position.

United States Patent 3,333,760 CARRIER Orville J. Bridenstine, Bartlesville, Okla, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 11, 1966, Ser. No. 564,156 Claims. (Cl. 229-44) This invention relates to article carriers.

Heretofore rounded articles such as beer kegs and the like have been transported in individual carriers which when formed into the closed position, i.e. the position wherein the carrier is closed around the article to be carried and therefore capable of being picked up and transported, defined a generally rectangular, or at least not curvilinear, hollow interior. Further, many of these carriers have generally vertical sides when in the open position, i.e. folded open to a position for receiving an article to be carried, and therefore are not readily suitable for nesting with another carrier for storage.

It has now been found that a carrier capable of nesting in the open position and still capable of better holding a rounded article can be formed from two hollow container halves hinged to one another between an edge of each container half, each container half having a curved base portion that extends downwardly and outwardly from the hinged edge of each container half to the lowest point of the curved portion and then upwardly and outwardly from the lowest portion to terminate in an outer edge means and the ends of each container half, substantially parallel to the planes defined by the curved edges of the curved base portion, are closed by upwardly and outwardly extending end closing means that also terminate at their lower end in an apex that extends below the lowest point of the curved base portion.

Thus, the carrier of this invention has many apparent advantages, some of which are that substantially square ends are provided for end stacking of the closed carriers, tapered sides are provided for nesting of the empty carriers in the open position, and a curved base portion is provided to better contain a curved article and prevent same from any substantial movement in the carrier when in the closed position. The last-mentioned advantage is to be distinguished from carriers which have a generally rectangular or otherwise noncurved hollow interior since these interiors tend to allow more movement of rounded articles therein.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved article carrier.

Other aspects, objects, and the several advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description, drawings, and appended claims.

FIGURE 1 shows an isometric view of a carrier of this FIGURE 2 shows an end view of the carrier of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows a cross sectional side view of the carrier of FIGURE 1.

'retaining means of the carrier of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 shows a retaining means alternate to that of FIGURE 6.

In FIGURE 1 there is shown a carrier composed of two hollow container halves generally shown as 1 and 2.

An edge of each container half is joined to the other through hinge means 3 (also referred to as hinged edge 3). Each container half has a central curved portion 4 3,333,760 Patented Aug. 1, 1967 that extends downwardly and outwardly from hinged edge 3 to a low point at the bottom of the curved base 4 and then upwardly and outwardly to terminate in an edge means 5. A plurality of narrower spaced apart bases 4 can be used in lieu of a single wide base.

Straight base portions 6 and 7 extend substantially perpendicularly from the planes defined by either curved edge 4' or 4" of base 4 and terminate at side means 13 and 12. Portions 6 and 7 also extend downwardly and outwardly from hinged edge 3 to an apex 8 and 9, respectively. Apexes 8 and 9 can define an acute or obtuse angle but preferably form substantially right angles. From apexes 8 and 9 straight bases 6 and 7 extend upwardly and outwardly to terminate in outer edge means 10 and 11, which outer edge means can be the same or substantially coextensive with outer edge means 5.

The width of the straight base portions can vary widely as can the width of the curved base portion depending upon the size of the article to be carried. The width of the straight base portions can vary from zero up to any desired width. Thus, if the length of the article to be carried permits, side means 12 and 13 can :be mounted substantially adjacent the curved edges 4' and 4" of curved base portion 4, the curved edges 4 and 4 of curved base portion 4 being those edges that are substantially normal to the hinged edge 3.

Thus, base 4 provides a curved portion for better contact of curved articles to be carried therein while straight bases 6 and 7 provide the configuration for defining square or rectangular ends for the carrier when in the closed position. Further, the slope of bases 4, 6, and 7 provide for nestability of other carriers in one another thereby conserving the volume required for storage of a plurality of unused carriers.

Side means 12 and 13 close the ends of the carrier half by connecting each end of hinged edge 3 with its adjacent apex and outer end of outer edge means 10 and 11. Side means 12 and 13 are also not vertical but rather extend upwardly and outwardly from the interior of the container half as shown in FIGURE 2, thereby rendering the container half more nestable with a similar container half. Side means 12 and 13 can be recessed for decorative purposes, the maximum depth of the recess being just above and adjacent the apex as shown by 12" and 13" in FIGURE 1 and the dotted line in FIGURE 2.

A handle aperture 15 is provided in the outer edge 5 and an upwardly extending handle means is attached to the upper edge of the handle aperture as will be discussed hereinafter with respect to FIGURE 3.

A closure means 18 is provided between the inner edge of straight base portion 7 and the adjacent curved edge 4 of curved base portion 4 to thereby completely close the container half. To complete the nestability of the container half closure member 18 extends upwardly and outwardly from apex 9 before it connects with the curved edge of curved base portion 4. A similar closure member (not shown) is provided between the inner edge of straight base portion 6 and the adjacent curved edge 4" of curved base portion 4. Although the closure members are not necessary in all carriers they are presently preferred because of their rigidifying efiect on the overall carrrier.

The curved edges 4' and 4" can carry upstanding ribs such as the one shown by reference numeral 19 in order to better contact the curved article if the curvature of the article tends to bring the article away from contact with curved base portion 4 at that area. Similarly, other upstanding ribs can be placed anywhere along the length and width of curved base portion 4 depending upon the type of article to be carried.

Container half 1 has substantially the same basic components as that described hereinabove except that the upper edges of the side means 20 and 21 of container half 1 carry retaining means 22 and 23, respectively, which will be discussed in more detail with respect to FIGURES 6 and 7.

FIGURE 2 shows an end view of container half 2 and better shows the nestability feature of that container half. Vertical lines 25, 26, and 27 shows that means 12, 18, and 13, respectively, extend upwardly and outwardly from apexes 8 and 9. Similarly, closure member 28 extends upwardly and outwardly from apex 9. Because of the gradual narrowing of straight base portions 6 and 7 from top to bottom similarly tapered base portions from a different carrier can be inserted almost completely into the interior of container half 2 so that two carriers can be stored in the open position without taking up substantially any greater volume than a single carrier would occupy.

FIGURE 3 shows a cross sectional side view taken through the line of section III-III shown in FIGURE 2. FIGURE 3 shows handle means 16 as upstanding and slightly outwardly curved, and that hand aperture 30 of container half 1 also contains an upstanding handle means extending from the upper edge of hand aperture 30. Handle means 31 further contains a hook means 32 which is adapted to extend through hand aperture when the carrier is in a closed position and lock on the outer surface of edge means 5 so that the carrier is locked in the closed-carrying position.

FIGURE 4 is a view along the sectional line lVIV of FIGURE 3 and shows one of many types of hinges that can be used in this invention. The particular hinge shown is integral with both of container halves 1 and 2 and is made up of the same material as those container halves. The hinged edge 3 can be formed at the same time the container halves are formed and further processed later to make the same more flexible. For example, slots such as slots 40 can be cut in the hinged edge and/ or the hinged edge can be heat treated or otherwise chemically or physically treated to make same more flexible. Substantially any type of hinging means can be employed. For example, separate individual hinges can be applied physically by riveting, glueing, heat healing, and the like to the sides of the container halves after the container halves have been separately formed. A single long hinge is also not necessary, two or more individual hinges spaced at either end of the hinged edges of the container halves can be employed.

FIGURE 5 shows a section taken along sectional lines VV of FIGURE 3, and shows that closure member 18 extends upwardly and outwardly from apex 9 and is therefore diverging from vertical line 50 to thereby promote nesting of other carriers therein. Only a small divergency from the vertical is necessary for any of side means 12, 13 and the like and closure members 18, 28 and the like, a divergency of suflicient for most conventional container wall thicknesses.

FIGURE 6 shows a cross sectional view of side means 21 and retainer means 23 taken along the sectional line VIVI of FIGURE 3. The upper edge 13' of side means 13 will fit into the offset portion 60 formed by the upper edge 21 of side means 21 and the inner side of retaining means 23. A similar disposition of the upper edge of side means 12 is made with respect to the upper edge of side means and retaining means 22 when the carrier is in the closed position. Thus, by the use of retainer means 22 and 23 the upper edges of side means 12 and 13 are prevented from moving inwardly or outwardly from the upper edges of side means 20 and 21.

FIGURE 7 shows alternate retaining means which is U-shaped and formed of external and internal sides 70 and 70, respectively, which define the retaining space 60 on the upper edge of said means 21. The retaining means FIGURE 7 serves the same purpose as that described with reference to FIGURE 6. Also, combinations about 3 from vertical being 4 of the retaining means of both FIGURES 6 and 7 and any other retaining means can be employed. Further, continuous members and 70' can be provided with cutout portions in both members. The cut-out portions preferably alternate so that a cut-out portion in 70 opposes a solid portion of 7 0' and vice versa.

Generally, the carriers of this invention can be formed from any conventional container material including plas tics and paperboard material of the type commonly referred to in the trade as solid-fiber board. When nonplastic materials are employed they can be given a protective coating such as an extrusion coating of polyethylene or similar polymers to increase their wear and water resistance. Generally, any thermoplastic material can be employed including thermoplastic rubbery materials but preferred are plastics such as polyolefins, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyesters, polyamides, acrylic polymers, and the like. A particularly preferred class of thermoplastics are homopolymers, copolymers, and blends thereof formed from the mono-l-olefins having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms per molecule, inclusive, a

still more preferred class being of either polypropylene,

polyethylene which has a density of at least 0.94 gram per cubic centimeter at 25 C., or copolymers of ethylene and butene-l.

Generally, any conventional forming method can be employed to make the carriers of this invention, such methods including blow molding, injection molding, stam-ping, casting, and the like. Non skid, e.g. roughened, outer or inner surfaces can be provided for members 6, 7, and the like.

Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. A carrier composed of two hollow container halves hinged to one another between an edge of each container half, each container half comprising, when said carrier is in the open position so that both halves open upwardly for receiving an article to be carried, at least one curved base portion that extends along a substantially central portion of said hinged edge for a length at least intermediate that of the hinged edge, said at least one curved base portion extending downwardly and outwardly from said hinged edge to the lowest point of the at least one curved portion and then upwardly and outwardly from said lowest point to terminate in a first outer edge means, and side members carried adjacent both curved edges of said at least one curved base portion, said side members having straight external edges that extend beyond the outer surface of said at least one curved base portion and that meet at an apex that extends below said lowest point of said at least one curved portion.

2. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein said container halves are integrally hinged to one another by the same material used to form the container halves themselves.

3. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein interposed between the curved edges of said curved base portion and said side means are straight base portions extending out from both curved edges of said curved base portion to the ends of said hinged edge, said straight base portions extending downwardly and outwardly from said hinged edge to an apex below said lowest point of said curved base portion and then upwardly and outwardly from said apex to terminate in a second outer edge means that is substantially coextensive with said curved base portion first outer edge means, said first outer edge means and second outer edge means are both at substantially the same height as said hinged edge, and said apex defines substantially a right angle.

4. The carrier according to claim 3 wherein said side means are upwardly and outwardly extending and connect the outer edges of both said straight base portions between the ends of said hinged edge, said apex, and the outer ends of said second outer edge means to thereby close the ends of the container halves and define an upper leading edge of the container halves by said hinged edge, the upper edges of said side means, and the edge means formed by said first and second outer edge means, said movement of said container halves to a position where their leading edges are substantially contiguous thereby placing the carrier in a closed carrying position.

5. The carrier according to claim 1 wherein handle means are attached to the canier for carrying same in a close position and locking means provided for locking the carrier in the closed position and retaining means are carried by the side means for maintaining the registry of the container halves when in the closed position.

6. The carrier according to claim 4 wherein closure members are provided which are attached to and extend between the inner edges of said straight base portions and the adjacent curved edges of said curved base portion, said closure member extending upwardly and outwardly from said apex.

7. The carrier according to claim 4 wherein there is provided a handle means including a handle aperture defined by said first and second outer edge means, said handle means comprising an upstanding outwardly curved member extending from the top edge of the first handle aperture of a first container half, an upstanding outwardly curved member terminating in a hook means extending from the top edge of the second handle aperture of the second container half, said hook means being adapted to extend through said first handle aperture and engage the outer surface of said first container half when the container halves are moved into the closed position.

8. The carrier according to claim 5 wherein there is provided upstanding rib means along at least each curved edge of said curved base portion, said ribs extending above the upper surface of said curved base portion and extending at least along the bottom portion of the curve defined by said base portion, and upstanding retainer means on the upper edge of two side means of said two container halves, said retainer means being offset from said side means so that the side means of the opposing container half are prevented by the retainer means from moving away from a contiguous relationship with the upper edge of the opposing container half side means.

9. The carrier according to claim 8 wherein said upstanding retainer means are both on the upper edge of the two side means of one of said container halves, said retainer means being oifset from said side means away from the hollow interior of the container half so that the side means of the opposing container half are prevented by the retainer means from moving away from a contiguous relationship with the upper edge of the side means of the container half which carries the retainer means.

10. A one-piece stackable carrier for a cylindrical container according to claim 1 wherein said carrier is composed of a substantially rectangular hollow hexahedron when the carrier is in the closed position, said carrier in said closed position having substantially equal depth and width and being divided diagonally along its length into two halves integrally hinged together along one lengthwise edge with the central section of each half being recessed at the lengthwise corner adjacent said hinged edge to form a curved portion adapted to fit snugly about the wall of said cylindrical container, the outer surface of said curved portion also being recessed inwardly toward the hollow interior of said carrier so that said outer surface does not extend to the planes wherein lie the six sides of said carrier.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,915,214 12/1959 Frankel 2292.5 X 2,920,805 1/ 1960 Reifers 2292.5

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. D. M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER COMPOSED OF TWO HOLLOW CONTAINER HALVES HINGED TO ONE ANOTHER BETWEEN AN EDGE OF EACH CONTAINER HALF, EACH CONTAINER HALF COMPRISING, WHEN SAID CARRIER IS IN THE OPEN POSITION SO THAT BOTH HALVES OPEN UPWARDLY FOR RECEIVING AN ARTICLE TO BE CARRIED, AT LEAST ONE CURVED BASE PORTION THAT EXTENDS ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID HINGED EDGE FOR A LENGTH AT LEAST INTERMEDIATE THAT OF THE HINGED EDGE, SAID AT LEAST ONE CURVED BASE PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM SAID HINGED EDGE TO THE LOWEST POINT OF THE AT LEAST ONE CURVED PORTION AND THEN UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM SAID LOWEST POINT TO TERMINATE IN A FIRST OUTER EDGE MEANS, SAID SIDE MEMBERS CARRIED ADJACENT BOTH CURVED EDGE OF SAID AT LEAST ONE CURVED BASE PORTION, SAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING STRAIGHT EXTERNAL EDGES THAT EXTEND BEYOND THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID AT LEAST ONE CURVED BASE PORTION AND THAT MEET AT AN APEX THAT EXTENDS BELOW SAID LOWEST POINT OF SAID AT LEAST ONE CURVED PORTION. 